The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-09-15
Horace Discomfort.

EE
One hot July day, little Horace Dis3
content threw himself upon the shady
grass, by the side Of a clear stre9nfY
water, exclaiming petulantly:
Il wish, l wish, I wish
What does your lordship wishP''
whispered a voice close BY. Horace
turned in the direction Of the whisper,
and saw a strange fantastical-le6king
being standing near, and gazing quietly
into his astonished eyes. who are
your" stammered Horace. unable to
remove his eyes from the stranger.
mo matter who I am, If you knew
my name you might not know me any
the better; but tell me yonr wish,
Horace, what are you wishing forp"
..Oh, I was wishing that was q
rooster, a regular bully rooster1l then /
could fly, or without getting 10
very tired; I could catch the bright
butterfly or nimbfe grasshoppa with
case and delight
You shall have your wishJ' said
the stranger, with a peculiar twinkle
in his sparkling eyes.
No sooner had the stranger SPOKEN.
when, 10! Horace felt a funny lensa-
ton, and as he turned toward the clear
stream he saw his reflectica III the
water, a beautiful rooster as ever walk
ed the sod. With a loud crow Of de-
light, Horace commenced to enjoy his
roostership. - s's'-
"Did You ever see such a splendid
cockp" exclaimed a, huntsman, who
CHANGED to see the new-made rooster.
mo" replied his companion Il have
not; I tell you he is worth having; let's
take aim!' &
''He may belong to some farmer
near by, therefore it would~no be right
to shoot him." answered the first speak
er. to the great relief of Horace.
That's so. but we might buy the
cock; at any rate. feel like having
him; let's catch him, and ask the next
farmer all the particulars" suiting his
acts to his words.5tlie hunter endeav-
5ored to seize the cock, who made use
of his wings, flew across the stream,
and then gave u loud crowzof triumph.
"Blame the rascal I will have him
in spite of his cunning" said the hum
ter, angrily giving a loud, shrill whis-
tie which vas 500 answered by two
hounds. They were Sent to fetch the
cock back to the other side of. the
stream While they swan though the
water the cock took refuge IN the
branches of a large locust; he flew
from branch to branch until he could
look down without fear upon his pur-
suers. ,a - Gas
Il tell you he is game; let's. shoot
him DOWN. "
"By no means; better to inquire first
to whom he belongs; the owner might
be unwilling to part with him at any
price. The hounds were recalled.
and to the great delight of the cock,
they followed the huntsmen away from
the tempting game cock.
As soon as the party:had disappear
ed, the cock came down fron1ifis eleva-
ted position; in doing so, he happened
to alight upon a piece of glass and cut
his foot severely.
"Ah. he exclaimed, bitterly, ito be
4 rooster is not what it is cracked up.
to be. l wish, I wish; / wish-n c
What does your lordship wish ?"z
asked the yo ce he had heard before,
close by his side.
''Oh, l only wish 1 had chosen to be-
come a nice little pony: no onegwould
want to shoot me then, every one would.
pet me-. and" G3
''You shall have your WISH" an
swered the stranger, with a peculiar
joyous voice.
Soon Horace found himself in a large
field. enjoying his freedom, and evinc:
ing his delight gayly.
"By George, it that amt a splendid
pony!' exclaimed n horse Jockey pass.
ing that way.,s'I'H have him as sure as
twice two are .four!" Then speaking
aloud he called the frisky pony yerY
gently, and by persuasivesnleans secur.
ell him. The ponv. however, showing
his temper. was subject to a strappinp
experiment, a la Rarey; after being
quite subducd, his new owner cry offer
cd him for sale to the uncle of Horace
Discomfort; here in his new place he
was subject to the whims of his own
cousins. who drove him hard, and
often treated him shamefully.
"Ah,, me-" exclaimed the pony one
day, show hard it is I'd be the slave OF
my own cousins, how l do wish I could
throw the rascal on my back Off, He
commenced to kick, and then came q
plunge into cold water. which, awaken.
ed Horace from his sleep. He hastily
used every effort togain the sod, where
he had been asleep, saying to himself:
:t:Is this then only d dreamP who could
the stranger have been that spoke to.
me SO plainlyg' /
That stranger was the spirit of dis.